Combined cigarette case and ash tray



March 21, 1933- c. WELCH COMBINED CIGARETTE CASE AND ASH TRAY Filed Feb: 3, 1931 Invenior Patented Mar. 21, 1933 CLIFTON WELCH, OF PENSACOLA, FLORIDA COMBINED CIGARETTE CASE AN D ASH TRAY Application filed February 3, 1931. Serial No. 318,213.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to a smokers appliance, and has'for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a combined cigarette case and ash tray which may be convenlently carried in the pocket by the user thereof.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a combined cigarette case and ash tray of the character described, which will be simple in construction, durable, efiicient in use, attractive in appearance, and which ma be manufactured at low cost.

11 of the foregoing, and still further objects, and advantages of the invention may lowing specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters of references designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the invention showing same ready for use as an ash tray.

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical transverse section through the device illustrated in- Fig. 1.

Fig. 3-is a view in front elevation showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section through the device illustrated in Fig. 3, and showing a removable top therefor.

Referring to the drawing in detail and in Figs. 1 and 2 in particular, it will be seen that the reference numeral 1 designates asubstantially rectangular open top case of any suitable material which is appropriately shaped to receive a conventional cigarette package 2, which, as seen in Fig. 1, has had a corner portion of its top torn ofii', as at 3, in the usual manner to permit removal of the cigarettes 4. The top of the casing 1 is provided with a cut-out portion as at 5, which registers with the torn-01f portion 3 of the cigarette package to expose the cigarettes 4, for facilitating the withdrawal thereof when the cigarette package is in serted all the way into the casing 1.

One of the walls of the casing 1 is provided with a substantially rectangular opening 6 through which the ashes are deposited when the clgarette package 2 is withdrawn become apparent from a study of the folto the position illustrated in the drawing. This is demonstrated to advantage by'the cigarette which is indicated in broken lines, in Fig. 1 and which is designated by the reference numeral 7 v The upper end of the casing 1 is provided with the transversely alined recesses or notches 8 for receiving a thumb and finger to facilitate withdrawal of the package 2.

In use, when the cigarette package 2 is seated in the casing 1, the opening 6 is closed thereby, as will be apparent, and the device functions as a cigarette case. When used as an ash tray, the cigarette package 2 is withdrawn to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, after which the ashes may be deposited in the casing 1 beneath the package 2 through the opening 6.

The package 2 is'then slid back into the casing 1 and constitutes a closure for the opening 6 to retain the ashes in the bottom portion of the casing 1. The package 2, by permitting no air to get into the casing below the opening 6, when inserting said packet 2, is disposed beneath the opening, will quickly smother lighted cigarettes, or hot ashes which may be deposited in the casing 1.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing, the reference numeral 9 designates an outer casing having an elongated opening 10 in one of the walls thereof, the top of the outer casing 9 being open for the reception of the inner casing 11, which is slidably inserted in the outer casing. The outer and inner casings 9 and 11 are of any suitable material. The inner casing 11 is open at its top for the reception of the cigarettes 12, and the inner casing is of a height less than the length of the cigarettes, for exposing one end portion of said cigarettes, as clearly seen in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

The outer casing 9 is of a height conforming substantially to the length of the cigarettes 12 in order that the top of the outer casing will be substantially flush with the exposed ends of the cigarettes, when the innor casing is closed, or seated in the outer casing.

Tongues 13 are formed integrally with the top of the inner casing 11, and are of a length to terminate substantially flush with the exposed ends of the cigarettes 12 The tongues 13, are of course, upstanding on the inner casing 11. The upper portion of the outer casing 9 is provided with the transversely alined recesses or notches 14 for receiving a thumb and finger for engaging the tongues 13 to facilitate withdrawal of the inner casing 11 to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, when the device is to be used as an ash tray and also to facilitate removal of the cigarettes.

As will be obvious when the inner casing 11 is moved outwardly, the cigarettes 12, may be conveniently removed therefrom and ashes may be deposited in the outer casing 9 through the elongated opening 10. The reference numeral 14 designates a slip-type closure which fits telescopically over the upper portion of the outer casing 9 when the inner casing 11 is seated therein.

It is believed that the many advantages of an appliance in accordance with this invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiments of the invention are as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further changes in the details of construction may be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is A device of the character described comprising an outer casing, having an open top and being further provided with an elongated opening in one side wall in spaced relation to said open top, an inner open top casing slidably disposed in the outer casing for the reception of cigarettes, and being movable across said elongated opening to close the same, when said inner casing is seated in the outer casing, the inner casing being of a height less than that of the outer casing and less than the length of the eigarettes for exposing one end portion of the cigarettes, opposed walls of the outer casing being provided with alined recesses to facilitate withdrawal of the inner casing from the outer casing, upstanding tongues formed integrally with the top of the inner casing and disposed in alinement with the recesses when the inner casing is seated in the outer casing, and a closure slidably mounted on the outer casing and removable therefrom and adapted to enclose one end of said inner casing.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CLIFTON WELCH. 

